Umbilicus rupestris
| Navelwort | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Umbilicus rupestris in bloom in Nazaré, Portugal. The flower can turn red in sunlight. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Core eudicots |
| Order: | Saxifragales |
| Family: | Crassulaceae |
| Genus: | Umbilicus |
| Species: | U. rupestris |
| Binomial name | |
|
Umbilicus rupestris (Salisb.) Dandy |
|
| Synonyms | |
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Umbilicus gaditanus |
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Umbilicus gaditanus
Umbilicus neglectus
Cotyledon rupestris Salisb.
Cotyledon umbilicus L.
Cotyledon umbilicus-veneris Houtt.
Umbilicus pendulinus DC.
Cotyledon umbilicus Britten
Cotyledon umbilicus-veneris auct. non L.
Umbilicus rupestris (Navelwort,Penny-pies, Wall Pennywort) is a fleshy, perennial, edible flowering plant in the stonecrop family Crassulaceae (in the genus Umbilicus) so named for its umbilicate (navel-like) leaves.
Wall pennywort grows to an average of 25 cm (9.8 in) high. The pallid spikes of bell-shaped, greenish-pink flowers of this plant first appear in May, and the green fruits ripen through the summer.
Both the name "navelwort" and the scientific name Umbilicus come from the round shape of the leaves, which have a navel-like depression in the center.
The plant is found in southern and western Europe, often growing on shady walls or in damp rock crevices that are sparse in other plant growth (thus, "wall" pennywort), where its succulent leaves develop in rosettes.
It is not at present under threat.
Umbilicus rupestris is not the same "Pennywort" as the one used in Asian medicine, which is the unrelated Asiatic Pennywort, Centella asiatica.
Umbilicus rupestris is used in homeopathic medicine. Navelwort is referred to as Cotyledon umbilicus by Homeopaths, since that was the original scientific name of navelwort when Homeopathy was developed.
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Wikipedia